The dining scene in Bangalore has always been more intense than in the other major metropolises of India. You will find people lovingly working their way through a Chateaubriand at The Only Place, sipping beer over intellectually stimulating conversations at Toit or letting the phenomenon of ghee in every bite happen to them, in quiet reverence at Mavalli Tiffin Room. So Restaurant Week India is sort of a festival here – a challenge to the chefs to be their inspired most and craft menus that are more special than on regular days.
Coming to why you Bangalore people are going to love us – Quirkhas handpicked recommendations for you to be able to make the best of the fifth year edition of Restaurant Week, this weekend.

Nimisserie, Brigade Road
Fusion food is best entered into with known flavours. So in the cold appetisers, I would suggest the Mix Max Bhel of Micro Greens, Jasmine Flowers and Fried Idli Crisps. It’s not too risky. The same goes for the Methi Thepla Cigars in the hot appetisers. You could go a bit bold for the mains, with Methi, Pea and Gnochhi in Smoked Tomato Sauce, Tri Pepper Crisps and Saag Kulcha. They sound bizarre together but taste like a symphony. Meanwhile, the non-vegetarians could go for the Spiced Crab Mousse in Idli Bun for the cold appetisers. Our ghost eater says that she simply had an instinct how beautifully those two would go together and it tasted better than her instinct let on. For the hot appetisers, you would be good with Chicken Aati – Maati, Phulka Tacos – they’re fiery and filling. And if it doesn’t fill you up already, the Fishy Affair, in the mains section, which is fish served three ways will do the trick. Meanwhile, our ghost eater insists that the Creamed Yellow Corn Soup with Truffle Foam and Shaved dried Mushrooms is a must-try for both, the plant and animal eaters. For dessert, you could go in for the familiarity of Salted Caramel in Chocolate Ice Cream or get to know the very random Masala Chai Crème Bulee and Rusk layered with Rose and Chocolate.Where: 120, Off Wood Street, Ashok Nagar, Brigade Road, Bangalore Contact: 080 49652770 Cost:Dinner – INR 1100/- per head (Government Taxes and Service charges Extra)

Italia – The Park, MG Road
Being a Mediterranean country, Italy is no exception to the deliciously fresh salads that are a part of every Mediterranean meal. Our personal recommendation is the Prosciutto di Parma e Insalata di Melone, a classic Parma ham and melon salad. The coolness of this salad would be well combated by the warmth of the Crema Di Zucca Gialla Con Porchino, a creamy yellow pumpkin soup with porcini. Moving on to the appetizers, the herbivores could go in for a Asparagi Con Formaggio Parmigiano because everyone knows that asparagus and parmesan is a match made in heaven. This cheesy bite could be complemented very well by a light, yet flavourful, Potato Gnocchi with Courgette sauce. For the ones at the upper end of the food chain, since you’ve had a salad with a ham, try the bird for your starter. Arancini di Riso are sumptuous rice balls stuffed with pate chicken, bread crumbs and parmesan and you’re going to love it. Take the Restaurant Week Signature** Cured Meat and Cheese Platter only if you’re drinking wine. This followed by Tagliatelle pasta with shrimps, garlic, cherry tomatoes and olive oil is going to have you writing love sonnets instead of hashtags. And for dessert, Tiramisu is worth your loyalties to it.Where: The Park, 14/7, MG Road, Bangalore Contact: 080 25594666 Cost:Lunch – INR 900/- per head | Dinner – INR 1100/- per head (Government Taxes and Service charges Extra)

Yauatcha, MG Road
Close your eyes and go in for the Truffle Edamame Dumplings. You could never have enough of the truffle flavour or the edamame crunch. Meanwhile, if you’re up for skipping the healthy and going sinful, the Sesame Prawn Toast is worth the potential heart attack. This is one place we would definitely recommend trying both the Restaurant Week Signature** appetizers. A snug Braised Chicken with Mushrooms in Claypot would help you forgive your appetizer indulgence while a Stir Fry French Beans with Shiitake Mushrooms will keep up the healthy trend you began with the dumplings. Both would go very well with the Vegetable Singapore Fried Noodles. Coming to the favourite section of our ghost eater here, he doesn’t suggest trying the Mango Mascarpone Gateau in the non-mango season. But he says the Milk Chocolate Praline would keep up the sinful trend begun in the appetizer while the Raspberry Delice would be an aesthetic delight as well. It would be pretty delicate to eat, he adds.Where: 1 MG Mall Road, MG Road, Bangalore Contact: 080 49652669 Cost:Lunch – INR 900/- per head | Dinner – INR 1100/- per head (Government Taxes and Service charges Extra)

Shiro, Vittal Mallya Road
Begin with Miso because the menu says that almost every Japanese meal is served with this clear tofu soup and we couldn’t agree more. Then again, you could skip it for the Creamy Spicy Glass Noodle Seafood Soup for the fervent flavour and texture play and the GLASS NOODLES! In the Dimsum & Maki section, the Shiitake Tempura Maki is bound to win over the vegetarians while the Wasabi Prawn Dumplings could make the non-vegetarians bless the Japanese. The Spicy Prawn and Avocado Maki, however, with its Classic California Roll, could make a vegetarian rethink their choices. Okay, we apologize to the vegetarians and suggest the Teriyaki Potato Skewers as a peace offering, from the appetizers. It would make a damn good peace offering! Meanwhile, non-vegetarians try the VEGETARIAN Vietnamese Summer Rolls just for how delicate, tasty and pretty they are. For mains, we found the Thai Vegetable Curry the most delicious, whereas meat lovers could go in for the very fragrant Chicken Hot Pot with Shiitake Mushrooms. Now, the Chocolate Volcano is a people pleaser but the Chocolate Cherry Bomb is for those who understand the beauty of the bitter, sweet and tart balance.Where: 2nd Floor, UB City Mall, Vittal Mallya Road, Lavelle Road, Bangalore Contact: 080 49652888 Cost:Lunch – INR 900/- per head | Dinner – INR 1100/- per head (Government Taxes and Service charges Extra)

Toast & Tonic,Richmond Road
Having come to one of Bangalore’s favourite restaurants, it’s going to be awkward telling people what to eat; but let me try. The Water Chestnut and Baby Corn Tempura would be a great appetizer to begin your meal with because they’ve taken a lot of fresh, crunchy elements like water chestnuts, baby corn and spring onion, and tossed them in a hot black bean and naga chilli aioli. The meat loving people could try the Carne Asada Tostadas, which have Chittoor agave marinated Bangalore beef, naati coriander, fresh jalapeno and scallions, pepper, avocado and lime – it’s the perfect coming together of global and local flavours. Toast & Tonic has done a fantastic job with the Restaurant Week Signature** Mains and we would suggest them for the vegetarians and the non-vegetarians. For desserts, you could go with the Chocolate Caramel Cake that would make your dopamine levels rocket. Or you could take a walk down someone’s memory lane with a Traditional Trifle – the dessert of the days when microwaves and other advanced electronic appliances weren’t kitchen material yet.Where: 14/1, Wood Street, Ashok Nagar, Richmond Road, Bangalore Contact: 080 49653085 Cost:Lunch – INR 900/- per head | Dinner – INR 1100/- per head (Government Taxes and Service charges Extra)

High Ultra Lounge, Malleshwaram
Here’s a place you’d go to just for the view. In fact, you could imagine yourself here this minute looking over Bangalore, getting all warm inside over what a great city it is! Also getting war from that elegant Medley of Mushroom with Fresh Herbs Soup you’re having… or the grandmotherly Chicken Wonton Soup would also complete the picture just as much. Speaking of grandmotherly, the Bokchoy Mushroom Dumplings or the Prawns with Thai Herbs would qualify as appetizers that taste of hugs. Although, if you’re trying to sink in the ambience of the lounge, the Chicken Tacos would be a great choice. For the mains, we suggest both the Restaurant Week Signature dishes, Vietnamese Yellow Curry for the vegetarians and Massaman Lamb Curry for the non-vegetarians, to keep up the grandmotherly vibe. But if you ask us which dessert would go best with the classy view of Bangalore that you’ve been unable to take your eyes off? We’d say Banoffee Pie.Where: 26/1 , 31st Floor, Dr. Rajkumar Road, World Trade Centre, Brigade Gateway Campus, Malleshwaram, Bangalore Contact: 080 45674567 Cost:Lunch – INR 900/- per head | Dinner – INR 1100/- per head (Government Taxes and Service charges Extra)

Caperberry, Lavelle Road
In a restaurant that’s as Mediterranean as they get in this country, I suggest the Serrano Ham and Fig appetizer as a way of breaking in to the region’s flavours. You could follow this up with a generously rich Pepitoria Chicken Breast main course, which is designed to delight with its Almond Saffron Pudding and Baby Vegetables in anOrange-Red Wine Sauce. For the vegetarians, the Baked Filo Parcels would be great to whet your appetites and then the Baby Vegetable and Almond Paella would give you the perfect taste of the passionate Mediterranean. Meanwhile, the Dark Chocolate Decadence with hazelnut and cherry compote reveals the meaning of decadence in every bite like an epiphany.Where: 203, 2nd Floor, UB City, 24 Vittal Mallya Road, Lavelle Road, Bangalore Contact: +91 8762933355 Cost:Lunch – INR 900/- per head | Dinner – INR 1100/- per head (Government Taxes and Service charges Extra)

*We suggest booking online beforehand to make a reservation at any of these places so that you don’t miss out on that meal you’ve waited for. Restaurant Week India is only till the 25th of September, so hurry!